USC 21, Boston College 0: End of third quarter

Southern California head coach Lane Kiffin prior to a NCAA college football game against Boston College in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013.
(Photo by Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News)

USC fans could be leaving this game early but not out of protest. USC has turned this game into a rout. It’s just hard to tell if USC is this good or if Boston College is really that bad. In the third quarter, Tre Madden scored on a 30-yard touchdown run to lift the Trojans to a three-touchdown lead. USC was penalty-riddled this game, and there was a flag thrown at the line of scrimmage, but there was no foul.

USC’s defense held Boston College scoreless through three quarters and played well.

Freshman running back Justin Davis had a spectacular 39-yard run in which he made a great initial cutback and fooled several defenders.

HALFTIME: USC 14, Boston College 0

That was more like it for the USC offense. The Trojans held a 14-0 lead over Boston College, which couldn’t stop the run or pass.

Cody Kessler found Marqise Lee for an 80-yard touchdown pass, and embattled coach Lane Kiffin was running down the sideline and fist-pumping after the score. It was a mid-range pass by Kessler, and Lee used his speed to go the distance.

USC had its share of mistakes, including six penalties for 65 yards. There were two roughing the passer penalties. The only time there was booing was on the Devon Kennard roughing the passer penalty, but it was the right call.

What a difference from a week ago.

USC honored the late Dr. Jerry Buss, the longtime Lakers owner, with tributes by the marching band at halftime. The Laker girls were on hand as well.

FIRST QUARTER: USC 7, Boston College 0

USC coach Lane Kiffin called for a deep pass on the first play from scrimmage. Even though quarterback Cody Kessler’s pass was overthrown for Marqise Lee, fans cheered wildly. Last week, the Trojans ran too many screens that went bust in a loss to Washington State.

The Trojans offense looked like a machine on their second drive, which resulted in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Kessler to Tre Madden off the play-action. That was a 14-play drive that spanned 86 yards in 7:44. Now THAT is how a USC offense is supposed to look, Kiffin.